Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-21
THE HISTORY OF A Grim E
A CONNECTED STORY OF THE
LILLIAN MA OLSON TRAGEDY.

To day has been appointed for the exc.
cution, in Richmond, of T. J. Cluverius
for the murder of of his cousin, Fannie
Lillian Madison. We give below cen
nected history of the crime of which he
was convicted, and which has excited more
interest than any event in criminal juris-
prudence that ever took place in Virginia:
ARUINED LIFE.
Four years ago Thomas j. Cluverius,
of King and Queen county, graduated in
law at Richmond College and went back
to his native county to establish prac-
tice. He became prominent as membe,
of his church, and was chosen Superinten-
dent of its Sabbath School. At college he
had been apparently model of modest
propriety and piety. But 1t came to light
after he left. that during this time his life
outside of the college had been different
from bis professions, and that in one of his
visits to forbidden places he had assumed
the name of Merton name that wa
to come up in startling way long time
after that. In the adjoining county OF
king William lived, with her father, his
cousin, Fannie Lillian Madison, who was
very fond of him, though they were not
accounted lovers. He was her only male
visitor. He had often taken her in his
buggy to her grandfather's ibis uncle's)
to spend the night. On July 8, 1884, she
Ice fnf RI hor md
fl. rer's to stay. He came there on the
10th, and several times after, and made ex-
cuses to be alone with her The medical
testimony of the case fixed that time as
about the date of her ruin. In her trunk
after death was vile document in his
handwriting, which made it certain that
he was connected with her fallen life. In
September, 1884. he wrote her a letter
also found in her trunk, urging her siren
uously to get married, and indicating some
man as the person for her to marry
About July, too, Cluverius, who had al
ways been cordial to Lillian g father. COM
menced stunning him. Lillian now be-
came anxious from her condition to get
away from home. She wrote to relative
at Millboro, Bath county, to procure her
situation, and he did 30 at Mrs Mar
garet A. Dickinson's in that county, as
eoverness and teacher. She went there
October 10, 1884, and while she was there
Cluverius wrote to her regularly, as was
discovered from empty envelopes in her
trunk addressed to her in his writing. AS
her danger increased with time the poor
girl more energetically pressed him to help
her.
PREPARING FOR HER MURDER.
He at last decided to help her by MUIR
derlng her. He was engaged to another
lady, who has married another since his
trial began, and did not propose to let the
| threats or entreatles Of Lillian disturb
him longer. On Ia1. s, 1885. Lillian told
| Mrs Dickinscl that she bad received a
letter telling her her aunt, Mrs. Tunstall,
of King and Queen county, was very i'll,
and she would go to see her. Being told
shat it was a long trip alone che replied
that "Cousln Tonnle'' (Cluverius) would
meet her. On the evening of the 5th of
of January she arrived In Richmond, and
registered at the Exchange Hotel as miss
F. L.. Merton" from Roanoke. She was
assigned room No. SO. On the next morn
! ing Cluverius walked into the Exchange
Hotel, ran his fingers down the register
! till he came to miss Merton, "and asked if
the lady in No. 66 was in. He saw her,
and called again during the day. That
evening she went out and did not return
to the hotel till the next morning. saying
she had staid with an aunt in Richmond.
/; Both Mrs. Tunstall's illness and the stay
ing at her aunt's we're proven on che trial
to have been manufactured and not true.
On the 7th of January she returned to
Bath. 1t was on that visit that the trap
was laid for the unhappy girl to walk into:
Cluverius, during his visit to Richmond
on that occasion, registered at the Capitol
Hotel, one square from the Exchange.
THE VICTIM ON HER WAY TO DEATH.
On March 10 Lillian. evidently by plan
concerted with Cluverius at Richmond,
received through the Bath postofflce a
forged letter which she had written 70 nef-
self and signed Laura Curtis" an
Sch oolmate, and which had been
by Lillian to Ciuverlus and then
mailed back to her. It told her
to Richmond, to go to Old PolI "a ne
INT. who was ,sick. She 70 on
" 18th of March. Il. had
n lie her write til in
Richmond bxI her
way